BREAKING: Lieberman threatens to switch parties

[Bluebear]

Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut told the Politico Thursday that he has no immediate plans to switch parties, but suggested Democratic opposition to funding the war in Iraq might change his mind.

Lieberman, a registered independent who caucuses with Democrats, has been among the strongest supporters of the war and President Bush’s plan to send another 21,500 combat troops into Iraq to help quell the violence there.

"I have no desire to change parties," Lieberman said in a telephone interview. "If that ever happens, it is because I feel the majority of Democrats have gone in a direction that I don't feel comfortable with."

Asked whether that hasn't already happened with Iraq, Lieberman said: "We will see how that plays out in the coming months," specifically how the party approaches the issue of continued funding for the war.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0207/2865.html

[helderheid]

1. ASSHOLE

[cool user name]

35. Mega-asshole.

:wtf:

[Xipe Totec]

2. To what, the Democratic Party?

too late.

[yardwork]

9. LOL! Good one!

[tjwash]

25. HAHAHAHAH!!! OK, how do we nominate that one for a DUZY?

:rofl:

[Cerridwen]

34. JeffR is the poster who compiles the DUzy awards -

FYI

:D

[Hippo_Tron]

98. Knowing Joementum he probably calls us the "Democrat Party"

[myrna minx]

3. What a pompous arse.

:puke:

[babylonsister]

4. Flippin' turncoat, but I'm not surprised. nt

[Dr. Death]

5. Switch? He already did,

the jerk.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[cali]

15. Lieberman's a pompous asshole

but suggesting that his loyaly is to Israel over America is an age old canard, and an ugly one at that.

[atreides1]

26. Just because it's ugly

Does not make it any less real!

Why does he continue to support a war that the majority of the American public is against? We know why the Republicans support it, because they've put all of their credibility behind supporting their
party and its head, not the country.

In truth do we really know who Senator Lieberman is most loyal to? I don't know and neither do you, but we can agree that he definitely is in it for what he personally can get out of it, and he has
little loyalty to the Democratic Party and the Democrats in Congress.

As far as him winning, I don't fault the Republicans of Connecticut, the blame lies with the Independents who voted for him.

[Warren DeMontague]

90. Dude, how many Israelis do you actually know? Because THEY think the war is a bad idea.

And guess what... when the shit settles in the region, they're still going to have to live there.

This idea that Israel is somehow behind the Iraq war is just too dumb for words. Here's a clue: there IS one Middle Eastern Country that is pulling the strings on this Administration...



...but it's NOT Israel.

[LeftishBrit]

36. I fully agree!

It seems to be in part based on the idea that all or many Jews have 'dual citizenship'. They do *not*. All Jews have the 'right of return', which means that they have a right to emigrate to Israel IF they wish to, and wish to go through the necessary procedures, which would generally involve renouncing their former citizenship. Most do not wish to do so. 'Jews' by this definition means anyone with a Jewish mother, and applies equally to a hawk like Lieberman, a liberal like Feingold, a Socialist like Sanders, or even a near-antiSemite like George Allen. This is an Israeli law, and has nothing to do with the choice of individual Jews, and thus using it against American Jewish politicians IS anti-semitic.

Lieberman is a hawkish Bush-poodle, who is gung-ho for the war; who has been to the right of some Republicans including I believe his predecessor as senator for Connecticut; and who is fundamentally disloyal to his party. In all these ways he reminds me strongly of my own great leader Tony Blair and several members of his government. Are they 'loyal to Israel'? Is what we (UK-ers) been dealing with for the last ten fucking years something to do with Israeli/ Jewish influence - I THINK NOT! Is hawkish imperialism, even in members of parties that should not demonstrate it, a Jewish characteristic? What about some of your original hawkish Dems, like Henry Jackson, Jeane Kirkpatrick, etc.?

I hate Lieberman as much as anyone, but please keave accusations of 'dual loyalty' off a liberal forum, at least unless you're also prepared to accuse Santorum and Brownback of 'dual loyalty' to the Vatican; Giuliani to Italy; etc. It's on the level of the right-wingers accusing Ellison of not being a loyal American because he is a Moslem.

[shadowknows69]

42. Yeah and our President listens to his citizens

over Saudi Arabia. Can I live in your world?

[cali]

47. Huh? What are you talking about? n/t

[k_jerome]

27. WTF? any opportunity to drag out fear of jews. nt.

[JackBeck]

7. Good to know that some Republincs agree with the Democrats

on troop escalation.

Christ, this is going to be a long 6 years.

[The Count]

37. Nah, by next year, Joementum won't count for s*. His Miller time (Zell) lasts

until the next elections in November.

[JackBeck]

99. Snap.

Great analogy!

[bigtree]

8. he's already on the outside of our party

prick

[peace13]

10. This reminds me of a child.

I say go ahead and don't let the door hit you in the *ss. I know that there will be ramifications but hey I would rather not have to listen to this for the next two years!

[Initech]

11. He should just put the R next to his name and get it over with.

[cboy4]

12. BUH-BYE

ass.

[AlCzervik]

13. and if the democratic majority increases in 2008 will he change back?

joe=attention whore.

[cali]

16. Precisely and that's why Joe's nasty little threats

are just that. He knows that the odds are with the dems in the Senate in '08.

[cascadiance]

32. DON'T LET HIM BACK IN!

We DON'T want him! Tell him then to go to the Republ-Hicks where he belongs!

[Monkeyman]

14. Can you say I don't get my way So there

[Name removed]

17. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LaPera]

18. So what stocks must Lieberman own?

Weapons stocks, oil stocks, Halliburton & other contractors stocks, corporate shares in steel & other war industries....is that why Lieberman wants to keep this war for profits rolling right along? Billions more of our tax dollars are just waiting to be stolen after congress gives BushCo another 100 billion plus of our tax dollars....is crazy Joe hoping to being asked on board the Carlyle Group someday?

Let lying greedy Joe get the fuck out here, he votes republican anyway...who needs his constant threats?

Lieberman what a complete whore, just as we all knew!

[me b zola]

29. Yes, Reed should call his bluff

Lieberman is using his (temporary) power as the swing vote for the majority of the Senate over the heads of the Democratic Party. Reed should remind Joe that in a year and a half we will in all likelyhood pick up more Dem seats will make Joe obscure @ best, and will almost certainly cost him any chance of being re-elected for anything in CT again.

Unholy Joe is behaving as the he is the CEO of the Democratic Party and he needs to be put in his place. Joe seeks power above all else and he will lose it all if he continues with this extortion of the Democratic Party.

[Colobo]

19. Big deal

He's been a closet Republican for years.

[maxrandb]

20. All I can say is

Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out you neo-con prick.

Just go Joe! Don't waste our fucking time. We're trying to accomplish something for the good of this country and our Democracy and you're gunking up the works.

- Take a look at the number of Republican Senators up for reelection in 2008 compared to the Democrats.

- Take a look at the sentiment of this country.

- Take a look at the energy that candidates like O'Bama, Clinton, Richardson, and Edwards are pumping into the Democratic Party.

- Take a look at the approval ratings of your good friend Dubya.

- Take a look at the "over the hill, lilly-white, I was for abortion-before I was against it, let's put our woman in Burka's, old farts" running for the Republic presidential nomination.

Take a look at all that Joe and tell me if you really want to throw away any seniority, chairmanships, or perks so that you can perform less than two-years worth of fellatio on a lame-ass duck pretzledent with approval ratings lower than Nixon.

Fuck you Joe. There's a good scene in Lethal Weapon where Murtoch tells Riggs "Don't just nibble on the barrel, pull the fucking trigger".

I'd rather you switch to the dark side now, than have you holding it over our heads, at the mercy of which way the fucking wind is blowing up your shorts that day.

soooooooo

PULL THE FUCKING TRIGGER JOE!

[calimary]

60. This is my favorite post of the day so far!!!

BRAVO!!!

It can indeed be argued that he will continue to wank us around and yank our chains for the next two years, ANYTIME he feels like he can throw a disproportionate amount of weight around. If it's not for this reason, he'll likely come up with another one.

Granted, we are stuck with him til 2012. BUT: there are FAR MORE republi-CON senators with seats at risk in '08 than there are Dems in that same boat. And the momentum, and mood of the country, is NOT with them. They will very likely be relegated to an even smaller minority than they have now - in BOTH houses. And once, again, our "friend" joe will have hitched his wagon to an anvil. Only this time it'll be permanently so.

We can let him toy with us until January 2009, or, as maxrandb puts it, we can PULL THE FUCKING TRIGGER.

[magellan]

68. LOL! Spot on!

Oh if only we could recommend replies! Thank you for saying it so well.

[Hardrada]

74. Is O'Bama courting the Irish vote in time for St. Paddy's?

Just kidding. Loved your post and wish I could memorize it.

[Parche]

84. JOE king

DITTO..............................

And to thought you would have been our VP at one time........uggghhhhhh

[Madspirit]

21. I've hated him for a long time....

Buh bye butthead.

[LeftishBrit]

46. I've hated him since 1988, if it comes to that!

[Madspirit]

50. My reason may sound silly.

I hated him long before his new crap because he caters and always has, to the far right. I run a group for fans of Buffy, Angel and Firefly. Joss Whedon is a wonderful leftist. Anyway, Joe Liebermann, while addressing the PTC...Parent's Television Council, a FAR right-wing group, told them and I have the quote somewhere but please don't make me search it out... He told them, if he was elected he would work to get all trash, like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, off television. I swear. Someone asked him if he had ever seen an episode and he refused to answer. This may seem silly to a bunch of politicos but it is political, in my opinion...pandering to the far right and promoting censorship and never watching something he was willing to condemn.

Now I get to hate him for a lot of reasons but that was my first.
Lee

[PassionateAttachment]

22. Joe Wilson - June 14, 2003

Joe Wilson - June 14, 2003

"The real agenda in all of this of course, was to redraw the political map of the Middle East. Now that is code, whether you like it or not, but it is code for putting into place the strategy memorandum that was done by Richard Perle and his study group in the mid-90's which was called, "A Clean Break - A New Strategy for the Realm." And what it is, cut to the quick, is if you take out some of these countries, some of these governments that are antagonistic to Israel then you provide the Israeli government with greater wherewithal to impose its terms and conditions upon the Palestinian people, whatever those terms and conditions might be. In other words, the road to peace in the Middle East goes through Baghdad and Damascus. Maybe Tehran. And maybe Cairo and maybe Tripoli if these guys actually have their way. Rather than going through Jerusalem."

19:46: http://next.epic-usa.org/epicdev2/_media/2003forumaudio/28-lecture-wilson-32.mp3

"On the other ones, the geopolitical situation, I think there are a number of issues at play; there's a number of competing agendas. One is the remaking of the map of the Middle East for Israeli security, and my fear is that when it becomes increasingly apparent that this was all done to make Sharon's life easier and that American soldiers are dying in order to enable Sharon to impose his terms upon the Palestinians that people will wonder why it is American boys and girls are dying for Israel and that will undercut a strategic relationship and a moral obligation that we've had towards Israel for 55 years. I think it's a terribly flawed strategy."

13:33: http://next.epic-usa.org/epicdev2/_media/2003forumaudio/29-lecture-qa-32.mp3

[Kolesar]

28. Do you have Joe's quote about the WH calling editors to intimidate reporters...

...who published *anything* critical of bush/Cheney? It used to be in my sig line but I lost track of it.

[demrabble]

23. FUCKING BASTARD!

Shit like this makes me SO fucking angry!

So Joe LIEberman thinks he can single-handedly subvert the will of the American people.

Lucy Winking on a Billboard, how I detest him!

[jumpoffdaplanet]

24. Since it can't change control of committees now...

Let him.

It might help a couple of republics to finally switch to democratic.

[halobeam]

30. I didn't know it wouldn't change control of committees....

thanks for that info... a bit relieved. Got to say though, I've NEVER donated as much outside of my state until Lamont ran.... I despise Leiberman.

[cascadiance]

31. Maybe we can beat him to the punch and get Susan Collins to switch now...

Since she's up for re-election in 2008, perhaps she might want to consider switching in advance (knowing how the Republican "moderates" got savaged in last election from the moderates switching to the Dems in the last election). If we get her and one other to do it now, perhaps we can just SHUT HIM UP NOW!!!

[w4rma]

70. She won't switch even to save her seat. Those GOP "moderates" only *pretend* to be moderate to

get elected in a Democratic-leaning state.

Those GOP "moderates" are in it for the big money golden parachute they'll get from their very very wealthy right-wing nut benefactors when they retire. They know that they have to put aside their ethics and be as loyal as they possibly can for they, and their families, to get that easy money at their retirement (or when they are beaten in an election).

[cascadiance]

94. She can't be any worse than Joeblow!

If she can commit to being against funding for the Iraq War (unlike Joeblow), I think we have a net win, even if she would be more DINO than other Dems are.

[w4rma]

97. Except she won't switch. Loyalty to the Republican Party is too important to her.

She only pretends to be against the Iraq War. If she really was against it, then she'd make a deal to keep the Senate in Democratic control to offset Lieberman's blackmailing.

Actually, I'm not even sure if she pretends to be against the Iraq War except for some ambiguous statements and votes on things that didn't need her vote to pass/fail.

[dansolo]

82. Especially since they will push her aside in the Homeland Security committee

If Joe switches, he will very likely demand to be the Chairman of the Homeland Security committee. Susan Collins is the Ranking member, and I wouldn't put it past the GOP to screw her over in order to reward Joe.

[cascadiance]

93. Now that would be a trip!

If we could TAKE AWAY that chairmanship from him and give it to Susan Collins if she switches now! Then she will have it guaranteed! And he will be guaranteed to be screwed there!

Though I'm sure we'd have to make sure that she'd be a lot more thoughtful about making sure that constitutional protections for civil liberties, etc. are followed if she is offered that position as part of that "deal".

[TahitiNut]

33. The "Litmus Test" is on the other foot, now.

I find it interesting that Lieberman, on the 2000 Democratic ticket, seems to be implying that a SINGLE ISSUE would be sufficent to cause him to switch parties. Interestingly, partisan Democratic voters seem to be fairly uniform in decrying such "litmus tests" in supporting candidates.

Fascinating.

[ulysses]

89. yup - that's fascinated me for a long time.

You know what the story line is though, right? It's the liberals' fault for challenging him in the primary.

[SlowDownFast]

38. Don't Let the Door Hit Ya

Where the Good Lord Split Ya!

[shadowknows69]

39. Go Joe

what the fuck are you waiting for. It was the plan all along wasn't it. To throw these little hissy fits and threaten us at every turn. Fuck you, go.

[noise]

40. The occupation

policy is more important than Dem control of the Senate. Let him go.

It would also be nice for the Democrats to put more pressure on Lieberman in order to make him defend AEI's sick plan.

[roguevalley]

41. if it happened, how would connecticut take it?

[Sequoia]

43. Dixiecrat?

You always were a repub thinker anyway, can't fool us.

[Bucky]

61. Sorry, no sale. This boll weavil dino is a certified 100% Yankee northeastern liberal turncoat.

Yall can dump a bunch of shit on the south's doorstep with regards to what's gone wrong with this country. But Lieberman is all Yankee, all nuts, and not one iota Southern.

[The Straight Story]

44. Which party is left for him to join, the greens? He has been in all the rest already! (nt)

[Solly Mack]

45. Oh phooey to the fluffed up popinjay and his delusional sense of self-worth

Piffle

[Nutmegger]

48. I never want him in our party again

He's a reupke who spews disgusting rhetoric just to make himself look good. The reupkes can have him when we pick up more seats in 2008.

I'm certain that the Dem leadership is sick of this gasbag already and are only being "nice" to maintain a majority.

[WI_DEM]

49. Let's call his bluff and if he goes he goes, and then next year lets hope to gain

2-3 seats and he can enjoy being in the minority.

[noise]

53. Good call

The Democrats should start shopping for parting gifts.

Maybe an Andover bullhorn.

[Greyhound]

51. Gee, never saw this one coming.

and so many talk about Nader.:eyes:

[undeterred]

52. Well, he hasn't been a Democrat for a long time

so what exactly is he threatening??

[devilgrrl]

54. Get out of here! Really?

Gee, who saw that coming? :sarcasm:

[robinlynne]

55. Would that pose any threat to our present majority?

[LSK]

56. and who didnt see this coming?? bye bye committees

[cain_7777]

57. Lieberman is going senile; he switched parties a long time ago.

[Fleshdancer]

58. I hope Lamont doesn't feel guilty for thinking "I told you so!"

This is freakin' insane. Not surprising unfortunately, but still insane.

[Bucky]

59. Hey, Connecticut voters! Thanks a bunch. I love our new albatross.

No, really. You shouldn't have. Really.

[judaspriestess]

62. to the people of Connecticut who voted for this asshole

GO FUCK YOURSELVES!!!

This is a another fine example of the dumbing down of America

[shadowknows69]

63. Don't lay it all on CT Dems

I'm sure the repubs came out in droves to vote for their benedict arnold.

[JerseygirlCT]

86. Only about 30% of CT Dems

Most of us voted Lamont.

It's the CT GOP that put Lieberman back in office.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

72. Way to go.

I look forward to the inclusion of the "Go Fuck Yourselves" plank in the 2008 Democratic platform. Well done, netroots!

[Nutmegger]

80. Thanks for that.

[B Calm]

64. Democratic voters of Connecticut who voted for him.. WE TOLD YOU!!!

[Supersedeas]

65. Voters of Connecticut -- read'em and weep

[nadinbrzezinski]

66. Color me surprsied

but that is exacctly what the people of CN voted for

[upi402]

67. war for profit

nothing surprises me with DINO's in the party. Too bad he got in, now it'll be hell getting him out of power. Especially with the military industrial complex smitten with him.

[Swamp Rat]

69. He already did a long time ago.

[spanone]

71. shut up joe, just shut up. go to the darkside, please.

[Robson]

73. So what does Joe Liebermann stand for?

Obviously Sen. Joe Liebermann is an honest neocon. He continues to support the optional Iraq War and the sacrifice of young Americans. He looks out only for those that already have more. Joe has used the Democratic Party to give him the credentials of a populist.

But if he feels that the faux populist image has been worn out....then why not swing to the elitist side.

[JerseygirlCT]

87. He stands proudly for Joe Lieberman nt

[tom_paine]

75. 'Bout time that probable Bushevik Mole showed his true colors!

He will be considerably less effective for the Busheviks once he's "outed" and no longer can deliver that quality high-level Democratic info.

I am only being slightly :sarcasm:

[doc03]

76. LIEberman don't let the door hit you where

the lord split you!

[Robson]

77. neocon?

I'll forgive Al Gore for picking Liebermann in 2000 and giving him credibility only if Al Gore runs in 2008 without any semblance of a neocon as a running mate.

[Joey Liberal]

78. Benedict Arnold Lieberman n/t

[geardaddy]

79. Separated at birth?

Hey CT, you can look forward to this...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norm_Coleman

[Ioo]

81. Can you recall in CN?

[B Calm]

83. You NEVER negotiate with a BLACKMAILER, they never stop demanding!

[Edweird]

85. revoke his chairmanship.

He's gonna leave anyway, so strike first and humiliate him while we can.

[Ghost in the Machine]

88. Turncoat Joe: Flapping whichever way the wind blows

So long Joe, we hardly knew ya'! POS!


Dont you just love this part? "Lieberman, a registered independent who caucuses with Democrats, has been among the strongest supporters of the war and President Bush’s plan to send another 21,500 combat troops into Iraq to help quell the violence there."

Makes it sound like he's been an Independent for years, instead of a recent switch, which was a slap in the face to voters in his state who chose Ned Lamont as their Democratic nominee.

Ghost

[bdamomma]

91. since he sold his soul to the bush crime family with that deadly

kiss, he has never been the same. stupid man.

[Rex]

92. Fuck you Joe!

EOM

[opihimoimoi]

95. Yeah, ditto that....if ya ever jump to the Pubics....I cannot think of a worse

thing for you to do to insure your name would go down in History as the greatest Asshole in all of the world....right next to Bush/Cheney/etc....

[cascadiance]

96. So which consultant's bright idea was it to put Lieberman in as Gore's VP?

Would that be Carville? I can't believe that Gore came up with Lieberwhore himself!

Whoever it is we should keep an extra "alert" out on watching their actions for 2008 election. I still wonder if we had someone else if that would have put Gore over the top then!

[mmonk]

100. Hey Joe L.,

you go with that.